Machine for making stereotype printing-plates.



C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

' APPLICATION EIIED AUG-5, I9l2- IIEIIEWED 001. 28, I918.

1 #388,000; Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

SSHEETS'SHEET I.

\I ION N m Q QM C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

.wrucmou FILED AUG.5. 1912. RENEWED OCT. 2a. 1018.

1 ,288,OOO Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n g. 441%. SWWWW.

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED Aue, 5, I912- RENEWED OCT. 28, I918.

1 ,288,000. Patented Dec. 17', 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-@1912. RENEWED OCT 2a. 1915.

1,288,000. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fig.5.

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FORMAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION HLED Aua.5,|912. RENEWED OCT. 2a, 1918.

1,288,000. Patented Dec. 17,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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CHARLES E. HOPKINS, 0F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR IiEAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING-PLATES.

Application filed August 5, 1912. Serial No. 713.283.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, formerly residing at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, and now at Plainfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Stereotype Printing-Plates. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for producing curved stereotype printing plates. The principal objects thereof are to cast the plates so the plate ribs run in line with the flow and therefore with the shrinkage of the metal, so as to be able to produce a stereotype plate having a thin body and a depth of rib suiiicient to make the plate of the requisite thickness for the printing press cylinder and of the proper diameter by means of a construction so simple that an ordinary stereotyper can operate it, and yet make it perfectly reliable owing to this very simplicity; also to construct it cheaply and thereby meet with all the requirements of the smallest newspaper plants operating web perfecting printing presses.

This invention also involves the positioning of a casting mechanism with a finishing mechanism so that the swinging of the core of the casting mechanism to one side will aline a curved stereotype plate type face up with the said finishing mechanism, improved means for separating the stereotype plate from the core during the swinging of the said core sidewise of the concavity of the back; means formed on the stereotype plate for engaging the separating means; means for simultaneously unlocking the casting members and withdrawing the matrix clamp from engagement with the matrix and freeing one side of the riser; means for freeing the opposite side of the riser and swinging the core so as to aline the stereotype plate type face up with the finishing mechanism; pivoted means for moving both end rings simultaneously; means for separating the riser from the plate and thereafter supporting said plate and riser, with means for positioning the plate in the shaving arch and simultaneously ejecting the riser; separate means for engaging the stereotype plate Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Deg, 17, 1918,

Renewed October 28, 1918. Serial No. 260,067.

and riser in the path of the trimming saw following the saws operation, and other features as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the mechanism in closed position ready to receive a charge of molten metal;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine with the casting mechanism open;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the casting chamber closed.

Fig. 8*" is a sectional view of part of the casting box partly opened.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the casting chamber open and one of its members turned over to deliver a stereotype plate and aline the same with the finishing mechanism. It also shows some parts broken away to show interior construction, and the end rings turned up and free from the stereotype plate, the plate being shown supported above the casting member.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the machine showing the driving mechanism and a rear view of the casting mechanism, with portions of the casting mechanism which forms the riser end of the stereotype plate in open position and separated from the riser, and the locking device released from locked engagement;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the plate lifter in raised position, a stereotype plate held by the lifter up against the shaving arch, the shaving knife in the act of shaving the ribs formed on the concave face of the plate, and also shows the riser portion of the stereotype plate being ejected from its support, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the trip and clutch mechanism in and out of engagement.

The construction illustrated and described shows the mechanism supported by a one piece frame A, the frame being provided with an extension at one side which supports the segmental back B of the casting mechanism, the said back being positioned so its concavity stands inclined preferably at an angle of degrees to the horizontal with the lowest point toward the frame A. The frame at thi lowest point is provided with ee-shoe bearings 7 in which positioned a hollow .aaft or sleeve o. h'lounted on this sleeve 's a bracket 9, which is fast to one side of he core C. The core is provided with a ounter balance spring 10. mounted on a )ivoted rod to aid the operator to swing the core to or from the backs conravity.

Positioned at each side of the back so as to form closing walls between the baik and core are end rings 11. These end rings are fast on a shaft 11 o] 3erating through the sleeve 8, or core pivot shaft. One of the rings is provided with an operating arm 12.

To the pivoted side of the core C is fast a bar 13, which acts to clamp the matrix to the back as well as means for closing that straight side of the ca ting chamber.

To the elevated side of the conca e back B, is pivoted a plate 1%, which forms one side of the casting (hamber extension. in which the riser S of the stereotype plate P is cast. On the same side of the core C, is pivoted av coacting plate 15, having extending side walls to engage the flatplate 1%. This plate 15 with plate 1% referred to forms the four walls of the riser portion of the casting chan'iber. T he molten metal is ladled or pumped into the open mouth 16. formed at the top and between the two plates 1% and 15. referred to.

For the purpose of locking the s-veral casting members together for casting 1 provide two locking hooks 17 and 18, connected by and fast on a shaft 19. operating in bearings formed on the back B. The hook 17 s provided with an operating lever 20, and the hook 18. an extension :21. to which is pivoted a connecting link the opposite end being pivoted to a locking hook fast on a shaft 2% located in bearings on the plate 14, the opposite end of the said shaft being provided with a corresponding hook By this means the two sets of hook" a re caused to move into or out of engagem with studs 26 on the core and studs 27 on the plate By swinging the arm 20 the casting members are simultaneously locked or unlocked.

The same operation of moving the locking hooks into or out of engagement with their co-acting studs lowers or lifts the plate ll on its pivot shaft, and. thereby positions the matrix clamping strip Z), over the upper edge of a matrix when in position in the or releases the said matrix on opening the chamber (as shown in Fig.

For the purpose of opening the casting chamber there is provided an arm 28 fast to the pivot shaft of plate 15. The operator to open the chamber turns this arm 28 from its downwardly extending position around to horizontal position, which action turns the plate 15 so its top edge engages under a weighted pawl 29. pivoted on the core bracket 9 as shown in dotted lines in F 3. T his looks the plate and arm rigidly in position to turn the core in either direction, the end of the plate 15 being held between the pawl 29 and the core hinge or bracket 9, and a further turning movement of the arm 28 uoward and over causes the core with a stereotype plate attached, to turn over on its pivot shaft and aline with the finishing mechanism. The projection s on the riser S, of the stereotype plate engages the top edge of a plate guide rail 30, so that a further turning of the core separates the core from the plate. This leaves the stereotype plate free to he slid toward the finishing mechanism along said guide rail 30 and matrix bar 13, located on the pivoted side of the core (See Fig.

The end rings 11 which form the closing walls of the curved casting chamber are made with the usual bevel on the chamber face sides, for the purpose of forming a corresponding bevel on the curved edges of the stereotype plate when cast, lhese rings 11 will adhere and follow the plate cast upon the core during the turning movement of the core from the back, as will also the matrix. The stereotype plate being in position on the guides 30 and 13, the operator removes the matrix from the type face of the plate by taking hold of its two straight edges, (and if another cast is desired repositions it in the back) after which he grasps the handle on lever 12, andturns the end rings free from the edges of the stereotype plate, (and into position on and over the usual flatmargins formed on the curved edges of the matrix positioned in the back.)

Having the stereotype plate out of the casting. chamber and alined with the finish ing mechanism the operator now proceeds to push the plate toward and under the arch D of the finishing mechanism. During this pushing forward of the stereotype plate P a revolving saw 31 engages and separates the riser S from the same. A tongue on the top of bar 32 fixed at each end to pivoted plate lifter cross arms 33. enters the saw cut and supports the stereotype plate P in position beneath the arch l). and the projection 8, cast on the riser S of the plate, engages and rests on the top edge of the riser supporting plate 3%, located beneath the tongue on the bar 3'2, and holds the riser up in position during the sawing operation. 7

After the stereotype plate is in position beneath the arch l), the operator closes his casting chamber, or elevates the core lever 28, sufficientfor the end of a trip operating lever 35 mounted on a shaft 36 to pass under the arm 28 and raises the said trip lever. which action elevates a trip arm 3.7, through its crank connection with the shaft 36. and thereby frees an extension 38 on the said arm 37 from engagement against a pin 39, fixed in a. worm gear As soon'as the arm is freed from the pin 89 a spring ll mounted on aworm driving shaft 42, located in bearings 43, will force a clutch jaw 44, slidingly mounted on the worm shaft 42 into engagement with a clutch jaw 45 formed on a worm 46. Owing to the worm 46 being loose on the shaft 42 and the said shaft being in constant operation the engagement of the jaws will start the worm 46 and the co-acting worm gear 40, fast on one end of the knife shaft 48, to revolve, which act causes the said knife shaft, which is mounted in bearings upon the frame A and axially alined with the arch D, to revolve and bring two cams 4949, formed on the knife shaft, into engagement with rollers 50-50 mounted on extending arms of the cross arms 33 of the plate lifter frame. This frame is composed of the said cross arms 33, the tongued bar plate support 32, and a bar 51 upon which the opposite edge of the stereotype plate rests when in position beneath the arch D.

Owing to the engagement of the cams 49, with the rollers 50 the plate frame is caused to pivot upward. on its shaft 52, which operates in brackets 53, fast on the top of the frame A. During this pivotal movement the stereotype plateresting on support 32 and bar 51 is caused to rise toward and engage the concave face of the arch. and be held in that position by the cams 49 and rollers 50 during the operation of shaving the ribs T, formed on the concave face of the said stereotype plateby a knife 54 fixed on the knife shaft.

As the plate lifter is raised. by the cams the outside face of the tongued bar 82 advances toward the riser support 34 sufficiently to engage the projection s on the riser S and cause it to release itself from engagement with the top edge of the said riser support and slide down the same and out of an opening-55 made in the frame A.

The stereotype plate having been shaved by the knife 54 during the revolution of the knife shaft- 48, said shaft is brought to a stop by pin 39 on the worm gear 40, engaging the projection 38 on the trip arm 37 and thereby forcing the said arm back and the clutch jaws 44 and out of engagement. This is brought about by an anti-friction roller 55 carried by the said trip arm eugagingin a groove 56 formed on the sliding jaw 44, and simultaneously compressing the spring 41, for the next trip operation.

The riser separating saw 31, is mounted on the top end of a vertical shaft 57, located in bearings 58 formed in the central cross piece in frame A. The lower end of this shaft is provided with a small pulley 59. A quarter twist belt 60 connects said pullc to a larger pulley Gl which is mounted on a cross shaft 62, positioned in bearings 63 beneath and alined with the worm shaft 42. This shaft is kept in constant rotation through the application of suitable power applied to a pulley 64, and a pulley 65 mounted on the worm shaft and connected by belt to a smaller pulley 66 on the shaft 62 causes the riser cutting saw to revolve at a high speed.

The trip mechanism is so constructed that the operator, at any time during the operation of shaving, can stop the shaving shaft by lifting up on the operating lever. This causes a pin 71 fast in the frame A and projecting through an opening in the trip arm 37, to engage with a suitable cam face 72 on the bottomside of the opening. Owing to the pin 7lengaging with the cam face 72 the raising of the operating lever will force the clutch jaws apart and thereby stop the shaving peration.

A chute 73 for carrying away the metal shavings is also provided with an outlet 74, through one side of the frame A.

Plate receiving supports 76 and alined with the longitudinal bars plate lifter and so arranged that plate is pushed into position in the will eject the preceding and onto the supports.

Although I have ShOWn and described a preferred embodiment of the invention I am aware that many modifications can be 7'? are of the.

as one arch it plate from the arch made therein by any person skilled in tho rt without departing from the scope of the mvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a back. a coacting core having an extension for forming one side of a riser, means arranged in the extension for forming a longitudinal projection along one side of the riser when cast, means for supporting the cast plate in position for removing the riser, and an inclined supporthaving an outwardly projecting ledge at the top for engaging under the projection of the riser and supporting the riser portion of the plate in an inclined depending posi tion against said support while the riser is being removed.

2. In a curved stereotype casting apparatus, the combination with a mold comprising a back, a convex core and an extension thereon for forminga riser, said core being adapted to be moved into a position in which its convex side is uppermost with the cast plate thereon so that the riser will depend from one edge thereof, of aplate guide rail to engage under said riser to hold it up as the core moves downwardly from the plate.

3. In a curved stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a segmental back having an extension at one side, a convex core having an extension at one side. means for locking the core and back to gether, and means on the core for moving its extension and thereafter moving the convex core out of the segmental back.

4. in a curved stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a segmental back having an extension at one side, a convex core having an extension at one side adapted to register with the extension on the back, means for locking the core and back together, and means connected with the back for moving its extension and simultaneously unlocking the core and back.

5. In a curved stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a segmental back with an extension at one side, a convex core with an extension at one side, means for locking the core and back together, means connected with the back for moving its extension and simultaneously unlocking the core and back, and means on the core for moving its extension and thereafter moving the convex core out of the concavity of the back.

6. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a back, a core pivoted to the back, means co-acting with the core and back to form av casting chamber t-l'ie-re-between, said casting chamber having a recess for forming a projection on one of the faces of the riser of a stereotype plate cast therein, and means positioned so as to engage this projection after the casting members have been separated.

7. In a stereotype plat-ecasting apparatus the combination of a segmental back and a. core, the space therebetween forming a curved casting chamber, with means in the chamber for forming a projection on the riser of a stereotype plate cast therein, and means for engaging the said projection when the core and back are separated.

8. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a segmental back fixed in a horizontal position, a core pivoted to one side of the back, means attached to the core for forming a r1dge on one of the faces of a curved stereotype plate cast between said back and core, a support, and means for mo ing the core so that the ridge will engage the said support duringsaid movement of the core.

9. In a stereotvne plate casting and finishing machine, the combination of a fixed back, a pivoted core, end pieces pivotally supported between the back and core, a finishing mechanism, means for pivotally swinging the core into alinement with the finishing mechanism, and means upon which a stereotype plate can 'be moved into the finishing mechanism.

10. in a curved stereotype plate casting and finishing mechanism, the combination of a finishing mechanism, a back positioned at one side of the finishing mechanism, core pivotally operative between the said back and finisning mechanism, and means eeaooo for delivering a stereotype plate into alinement with the finishing mechanism with the convex face of the plate up.

11. In a curved stereotype plate casting and finishing machine, the combination of a finishing mechanism, a back, a movable core, means form ring a stereotype plate cast between the back and core laterally into alinement with the finishing mechanism v ith its convex face up, a saw at one end of the core, and supports over which the plate can be moved toward and over the saw.

12. In a curved stereotype plate casting and finishing machine, the combination ofa finishing mechanism, a frame, a shaving arch mounted thereon, a shaving knife'arranged to intermittently revolve beneath the arch, a vertical saw shaftfor carrying a saw, a curved plate casting apparatus posi- Lioned at one side of the said arch, means for delivering a stereotype plate from the casting mechanism laterally into alinement with the finishing mechanism, means for guiding the plate to and through the finishing mechanism, and means for operating the said saw and knife so they may operate on the stereotype plate while it is on the guiding means.

13. in a curved stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a finishing mechanism, a shaving arch, a shaving knife, means for operating the said knife, a horizont a1 concave casting back at one side of the arch and with its axis parallel with the axis.

thereof, in position to form a plate with its concave face up, and a convex core movable from the back to a position to aline the cast plate with said arch.

i i. In a curved stereotype plate mak ing machine, the combination of a finishing mea-lianism, a back, a core movable toward or away from the back, means for forming a riser along the straight edge of a stereotype plate cast between the core and back,

a finishing mechanism having means for separating the said riser from the plate, and means for supporting the said riser during the separation.

15. In astereotype plate making machine, the combination of a horizontal casting apparatus, means for supporting a plate cast in thecasting apparatus in position for having its riser sawed off, separate meansfor supporting the riser portion of the plate during and after the sawing'operation, and means for ejecting the riser free from the machine.

16. in a curved stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a frame, a cast ing mold supported at one side of the frame, a shaving knife extending lengthwise of the frame, a shaving arch above and alined with the shaving knife shaft, guideways alined with the shaving knife shaft, meansfor revolving the knife shaft, means for removing a curved plate from the casting mold side- 4 the cast the combination of a horizontal casting box comprising two parts, means for turning one of said parts about its straight edge to move the cast plate from the other part and invert it at the side thereof, and a finishing mechanism arranged in alinement with said part when so inverted and located beyond its end.

18. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a horizontal stationary curved back arranged with its concave side up, a convex semi-cylindrical core adapted to rest in said back, means for turning said core about one of its straight edges to remove it and a plate cast thereon from the back and invert the plate, and a finishingmechanism arranged in alinement with the core when turned out of the back and beyond the end thereof.

19. In a curved stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a mold comprising a back, a convex core and extensions thereon for forming a riser, said core being adapted to be moved into a position in which its convex side is uppermost with plate thereon so that the riser will depend from one edge thereof, of a horizontal bar adapted to engage under said riser to hold it up as the core moves downwardly from the plate.

20. In a curved stereotype plate castin apparatus, the combination with a mol comprising a back, a convex core and extensions thereon for formin ariser, said extensions being provided with means for cast :ing a horizontal rib along one side of the riser, said core being adapted to be turned over to a position in which its convex side is uppermost with the cast plate thereon, so that the riser will depend from one edge thereof, of a horizontal bar adapted to engage under said rib on the plate to hold it up as the core moves downwardly from the plate.

21. In a stereotype plate making apparatus, the combination of a mold having a gate thereon for forming the riser on the cast plate, said gate having a recess on one side thereof for forming a longitudinal rib 0n the riser, means for delivering the cast plate from the mold with its straight edges at the bottom, a finishing mechanism, and means in the finishing mechanism for engaging said rib and holding that side of the plate while being finished.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN WOOD, F. W. HOWLAND.

flopies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 6." 

